It first diversified from its cappuccino and skinny latte menus by selling newspapers and Bob Dylan CDs. Now Starbucks is considering introducing electronic displays to occupy mobile phone gamers while they sip their coffee.

The high street giant is in talks with the company behind mobile game Angry Birds to nestle up to new customers and bring its brand into social networking arena.

Angry Birds is one of the best-selling mobile games in the world and has been downloaded more than 350m times. Rovio Entertainment, its creator, reckons having so-called leaderboards in the shops will build brand loyalty by encouraging people to play the game while enjoying a coffee.

The leaderboards are expected to display customers' scores when they play Angry Birds at participating outlets.

"It's tying in the real world with the virtual world," Wibe Wagemans, a senior vice president at the company said. "Retailers get new customers who've not been to their stores yet, and repeat customers."

The game – to anyone who hasn't seen it – involves using a sling to fire birds at enemy pigs, who build increasingly elaborate defences through the games levels.

Rovio is keen to try and convert its phone success into merchandising with stuffed animals, T-shirts, books and a movie.

It has already tested the notion of leaderboard promotions through a pilot scheme in the US with the book retailer Barnes & Noble.

Wagemans has revealed that more than 10,000 people have spent more than 30 minutes playing at Barnes & Noble locations.

"There are retailers out there who have a lot to gain by increasing the time spent at their location, and increasing the money spent there," Wagemans said.

Rovio has a game on Google+ which was launched to the wider public on Wednesday following a closed beta test period.

It is also planning a Facebook version to take on Farmville and consoles such as the Nintendo DS.

Starbucks declined to comment on the talks.

"While we are always looking for great partnerships to better meet the needs of our customers, at this time we have no announcements regarding any work with Rovio Entertainment," the Seattle-based company said.